Valet parking operators crackdown

Parking meter receipts are on a dashboard along State Street. (Phil Velasquez Chicago…)

April 02, 2014|By Leonor Vivanco, @lvivanco | RedEye

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) has proposed cracking down on valet parking operators by fining them up to $5,000 for operating without a license or revoking their licenses if they use counterfeit parking meter display tickets.

Unlicensed valet operators would be fined between $3,000 and $5,000, incarcerated for up to six months, or both, according to an amendment to the valet ordinance introduced at Wednesday's City Council meeting.

In addition, any valet operator or its employees found to be parking customers' cars using a stolen, altered, defaced, tampered or counterfeit parking meter ticket or receipt would have its license revoked.

The Tribune reported in February that some valet operators were making counterfeit parking meter receipts and parking cars in metered spots when they are required to park vehicles in off-street lots or garages.

The proposed amendment would also change the penalty for violating the valet ordinance. Currently, valet licenses can be revoked if the parking operator has been convicted of three violations of the ordinance within 180 days. The amendment would revoke the license if an operator or its employees was found in violation of the ordinance on three or more separate dates within a 12-month period.

The proposal will head to the Committee on License and Consumer Protection for consideration.